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Medical Marijuana in Israel and Germany

Many people are at least vaguely aware that government-sanctioned medical marijuana programs exist in Canada and the Netherlands. But few Americans are aware that another of America’s strongest allies, Israel, also has a national medical marijuana program. And, according to a translation posted by MAPS of a recent article in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, that program is growing.

Three hundred patients are now enrolled, representing a 1,400% increase in new permissions to use medical marijuana in the last two years, according to the paper. Strikingly, the program includes not only the obvious indications like neuropathic pain or nausea and vomiting related to treatments for cancer or HIV/AIDS, but conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder that are often not included in U.S. medical marijuana laws, though there is reason to believe that marijuana may be helpful for at least some PTSD patients.

Feb 17 2009, 7:32 am
Nick Shapiro, HAS LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. From inside sources at the big white house, it’s in the making.
From reliable connections, the word is: THE DRUG REFORM ACT of 2k9 will legalize Marijuana in every state. I wasn’t suppose to exploit the fact, but it’s being writen behind close doors and will be completed within the next few months. They are trying to have the bill ready before the 4th of July,***IT’S HISTORY IN THE MAKING***
It’s being done to put all those unemployed Americans to work and the taxes from it will be used to provide all Americans FREE health insurance, So tell all your pothead friends to write their congressman/woman and THANK them for saving us all from the wrath of the DEA. The war is over and our president has saved the day again. Just be patient and get those letters out to your representives in Washington D.C. Let them know that it’s HIGH time they did something right for the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

This is a FACT, not bullshit, it’s for real. THANK YOU,
Mr. President, we the people will make sure you get re-elected next term. Thanks to people like, Lois Capps, for a job well done.
THANK YA, THANK YA, THANK YA. It’s about time!

Special thanks to the media and Israeli news for educating the public via country approved marijuana programs. The United States should copy this good example of assistance and not punishment in the act of saving ones life from things like cancer. Hemp Oil is a known cure for cancer and I’m constantly in touch with my legislators here in Tennessee and my Congressman tells me there’s a debate from passing Bills on the issue of medicinal use of marijuana prescribed by a licensed doctor. If all goes well Tennessee will be the 14th State to pass Bills SB 209 and HB 386 for hemp medicine legalization. This will save Tennesseans travel money and being away from home to get proper life saving medicines without fear of being jailed. Activist, please spread the word in Tennessee, vote for hemp medicines, the vote is coming but when???

Its unsympathetically intolerant that politicians in the United States have hid behind the “we don’t want to give the children the wrong message,” among other weak arguments. Meanwhile people are writhing in pain, suffering, and very possibly could be cured in certain cases with this plant. It blows my mind that cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and all of a sudden these narcissistic attitudes and policies prevail despite EXTREMELY strong evidence of its benefits. Suffering from the relatively early stages of neuropathic pain (small fiber neuropathy) and inadvertantly realizing how well this works for pain, but also the potential long term neuroprotective properties that could ultimately EXTEND MY LIFE, I have no choice but to take this very personally. Whatever happened to “NATURAL, & inaleinable rights?” Freedom of choice to use a plant in healing should not even be an issue of debate, especially in a country that prides itself on freedom….

Not mentioned in the case made for smoking Mj instead of pill form is that when inhaled it’s effects are available almost immediately. Furthermore this allows for those suffering from problems with the GI system to ingest the substance whereas they would not be able to swallow and/or digest the pills.
Otherwise the issue comes down to this: there are benefits that can’t be argued to those with very few options so stand down DEA. It is also an issue of personal freedom, just ask George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both known to grow the plant on their plantations………

Considering many of the scientific reports I have read have come out of Israel, I guess this doesn’t surprise me. Our government if forcing the scientific community to stick their collective heads into the sand when it comes to furthering cannabis research and its medicinal applications. If you can’t stand the thought of “dumbing down” our nation in the interest of protecting business as usual, you need to contact your reps and demand reform! This is a PLANT, not a fetus, so the fact that research is completely stifled for supposedly “moral” reasons just doesn’t fly. It hurts no one to learn and research. It only harms us if we choose to be ignorant, or rather, government and industry attempt to make that choice for us.

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The opinions expressed by our viewers and posters do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Marijuana Policy Project. These views are those of their individual authors alone. MPP does not condone or support the illegal use of marijuana. We do encourage open and frank discussion, but if a comment has been posted that is in some way significantly inappropriate, please email us at [email protected] to report it. Thank you, and we're looking forward to what you think!

"Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care. ... It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence in this record."
DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young, Ruling in the matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition, September 6, 1988